Indian Community Celebrates Diwali

Hundreds of Suffolk County's Indian community, friends and family gathered to celebrate Diwali last night.

Suffolk County hosted its third annual Diwali Celebration, marking The Festival of Lights on Friday night. The five-day festival celebrations honored Indian community leaders and featured cultural songs, dances and a shared meal.

"Our goal is to have Diwali celebrated as a holiday, marked on the calendar just like any other holiday is," said Program Director Nisha Joshi.

Diwali, or Deepavali, is a five-day festival celebrated throughout Indian culture as "The Festival Of Lights" which includes the start of the New Year. Traditions include lighting lamps, diyas to illuminate streets, gardens, doorways, rooms, and other areas to symbolize victory over righteousness, light over darkness, happiness over misery, knowledge over ignorance and freedom over oppression.

"This is a period for us to make sure we don't take what we have for granted," County Executive Steve Levy said. 

This year the celebrations honored six community leaders for their contributions to Indian society in America. First, Hansa Vasanti Ramji and MaryAnn Potito who are using their own experiences battling breast cancer to form a support group called "The Warrior Sisters."

Professor S.N. Sridhar and professor Kamil K. Sridhar were honored for founding  the Center for India Studies at Stony Brook University.

"What we have tried to do is expand the possibilities for learning about INdia, and never has it been more important than now," said S.N. Sridhar, referencing India's growing role in the world economy.

Anupama Mukund, a junior at Stony Brook, was honored for her work as president of Stony Brook University's Hind Student Council.

Also honored was Avinash Suri, for her active leadership role in the Long Island community and dedication to various charity organizations.

Mel Guadalupe, director of Suffolk County Office of Minority Affairs, looked out over the room Friday night and proudly noticed it was standing room only.

"What you have done is establish a tradition, a tradition that brings people together," Guadalupe said.